Serve the Party’s Current Policies in Newspaper and Periodical Propaganda[1]

(September 15, 1942)

Comrade Chen Yi:

The time has now come to bring about an improvement between the Guomindang and the Communist Party, to resume negotiations between the two parties, and to restore the legal status of the New Fourth Army so as to persevere in the War of Resistance. Regarding the matter of frictional [mo ca] engagements, I have already cabled Li Xiannian to do his utmost to avoid them henceforth and to find ways to improve relations with the surrounding Guomindang troops; please pay attention to this with regard to the other units as well. In the area of propaganda, please also take care to explain to the propaganda personnel that they must do their utmost to avoid speaking of the Guomindang’s shortcomings and making comparisons between the good and bad of the Guomindang and the Communist Party. Fan Changjiang’s first two dispatches were very good and have already been published in Liberation Daily and broadcast; the third was unsuitable and therefore has not been published. Please explain the current policies to him and convey my regards to him on my behalf. Please keep a firm grip on the newspapers and periodicals in northern Jiangsu and ensure that their propaganda submits to the Party’s current policies.

Mao Zedong

The 15th day

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Chen Yi.